Žižek's New Film: Cinema as Utopia's Mirror

The renowned Slovenian philosopher Slavoj Žižek is set to captivate audiences once again with "The Pervert's Guide to Utopias," his third film collaboration with director Sophie Fiennes. This new documentary, premiering in Venice on September 7, 2026, reimagines Žižek's philosophical insights by placing him directly into recreated scenes from celebrated films and television series.

Fiennes masterfully integrates Žižek into cinematic frames, such as a bathtub scene reminiscent of Kirsten Dunst in "Melancholia," and a red-robed pose evoking "A Handmaid's Tale." The film delves into Žižek's often counter-intuitive interpretations, suggesting that cinema's primary role is to expose the utopian presuppositions we overlook in our daily existence.

"Our duty is to see things the way they are. And here, cinema helps us," Žižek states, emphasizing film's power. He argues that Hollywood and cinema, in general, have always been instrumental in bringing out these buried utopian ideals. For Žižek, movies offer a more profound understanding of humanity than mere observation of the world.

Produced by Keeper Pictures, P Guide, SPOK Films, The Film Kitchen, and Mattima Films, "The Pervert's Guide to Utopias" promises a thought-provoking examination of philosophy, cinema, and the nature of human desire. World sales are being managed by Shani Hinto.